Red Herring

"What's this?" the elementary student asked, pointing to a small crack in the glass of aquarium tank.

The tour guide, Mina, walked up beside the child and stared at the crack.

"I guess one of the fish hit it too hard," she replied, hoping the child would buy it. She knew the kippers weren't strong enough to break glass, but she didn't have another explanation. "Let's get on with the tour."

Mina led the students through the dark tunnel. Most of the students weren't interested in the ocean, aside from sharks which was where the tour concluded.

The group passed by a set of washrooms, where Mina bumped into her fellow employee, Desdemona.

"Sorry about that, Des," Mina apologized.

Visibly shaken, Desdemona sped away, desperate to get away from Mina.

"You okay?" Mina asked, noting the odd behaviour.

Desdemona ignored her, failing to notice the other person, or the wall, that she almost bumped into.

Mina frowned. "If you see Bill, tell him one of the kids threw up near the cephalopods."

Mina's outburst became the topic of hushed conversation between the children. Their inappropriate mocking of vomiting sounds caused Mina to be very thankful when they finally came to the shark tank.

"And here, we have Bruno, our great white shark," Mina shouted, pointing towards the massive blue tank. "Most people are afraid of sharks, in particularly the great white," she continued, a slight hint of bitterness in her voice. "Movies like to portray these creatures as vicious, mindless, man-eating machines. But the truth is..."

Mina's monologue was abruptly interrupted by the piercing scream of a little girl. She was about to reprimand the girl, when she noticed her pointing towards the tank and the teacher gathering the students up.

Mina turned around and, to her horror, saw Bill, the janitor, floating upwards in the tank, half-eaten, but unmistakably dead.

--

Kyra was moving slower than usual. Though it had been months since she arrested her friend, Jennifer, for being a serial killer, it still felt like only yesterday. However, she listened intently as Officer Roberts relayed the information to her.

"William Cobbett," Roberts said, leading her through the aquarium. "Twenty-seven years old, works as a janitor."

"Did Anderson photograph that yet?" Kyra asked him, pointing towards the crack in the glass of the kipper tank. Roberts shrugged and continued with the report.

"Detective, watch out," he warned her, mere seconds before her shin would've hit a sharp, wooden bench.

Kyra took a deep breath. Ordinarily, she was the master of observation. How could she miss it?

Approaching the shark tank, Kyra noticed a barrier had been set up to prevent spying from the general public. Beside it, the tour guide was talking to two other officers.

As Kyra drew back the barrier, she found that it wasn't the sight of a bloated corpse missing an arm and a leg that was the most shocking thing she'd see today. It was her partner, Jeffrey Hayes, kneeling beside Bill's head beside Anderson, the forensics photographer.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"See this here?" Jeff asked, pointing towards the head.

Kyra wasn't surprised that he was deflecting. Jennifer had been his girlfriend and abducted him in her twisted game of cat and mouse. Deciding not to press the issue, Kyra turned her attention to Bill.

"What did you find?" she asked.

"Bruising around the head and a cut on the forehead," Anderson replied.

"I'm guessing that's not the work of the fish," Jeff quipped.

Kyra looked around. Before long, she found what she was looking for: a security camera, pointing right at the shark tank.

"Hello there," a woman said, breaking Kyra's concentration. "I'm the aquarium director, Dolores Hecate. Please, step into my office,"

As she led them away, Kyra picked up a peculiar scent on the air. Not water, but something warm and tasty. She turned her head and saw a basket of cooked red herrings in a nearby kitchen.

--

"I don't like this one bit," Dolores seethed in her office.

"Sorry?" Jeff asks, tersely.

"The aquarium has struggled for years. Even before the shutdown. It's that damned internet. No one wants to go out to see fish, when they can see it on their phones. We can't afford for any bad publicity."

"What's with the crack in the glass?" Kyra asked.

"I'd forgotten that you do that," Jeff smirked.

"The kipper tank?" Dolores confirmed. "One of them tried attacking a kid who was tapping on the glass. Been there a while; can't afford to repair it."

"Would we be able to view the security tapes?"

Dolores' eyes widened.

"I'm sorry," she began, hesitantly. "They were stolen last night. I was wondering if you could find them, since replacing the tapes is more than I can spare."

"You're broke, we get it," Jeff said.

"Ms. Hecate," Kyra interjected, hoping to divert Dolores' attention from Jeff's bluntness. "Do you know anyone who would want to hurt William?"

Dolores turned to Kyra. "Desdemona. They argued all the time. More lately, now that I think about it."

--

"What can you tell us about Bill?"Kyra asked Desdemona at the front desk.

"Nothing. Don't know him," she replied, her voice erratic.

"You've worked with him," Jeff grunted.

"I've got to get back to work. I don't know anything."

"That's exactly what someone who does know something would say."

She stared at him for a brief moment and then made a small gesture like she might vomit. She darted away from the desk, grabbing her mouth.

Jeff started to follow her, but Kyra grabbed him.

"She knows something."

"I know," Kyra agreed. "But you're not going to get answers like that."

--

Thought she knew he was still upset about what had happened, Kyra didn't say a word to Jeff the entire car ride to Bill's house. He, probably, wasn't necessarily ready to talk about it.

The outside of the house had peeling paint and signs of water damage, and the front window was broken. Even still, it wasn't nearly as bad as the interior. Pizza boxes littered the floors, clothing and paper was everywhere, and the tables were overturned,.

"This doesn't seem right," she noted. "It feels like... it was ransacked."

Kyra glanced up at the ceiling and narrowed her eyes in confusion.

Another security camera, newer than the one at the aquarium, was pointing directly into the center of the living room.

"Why would he want a security camera?" Kyra asked as she grabbed a nearby chair to hoist herself up.

"Isn't the best neighbourhood," Jeff shrugged. "Probably wanted extra security."

Kyra opened a compartment on the camera and sighed, slumping her shoulders.

"Tape's missing."

Jeff threw his hands up and grunted. He kicked the coffee table in frustration, bring the fragile furniture down with it.

A second later, both Kyra and Jeff heard a small crash followed by a voice shouting an obscenity.

Grabbing their guns, the detectives burst into the adjacent room and saw a skinny man standing there, arms in the air.

"Don't shoot," he shouted. "I give up."

Kyra looked down at the ground and saw a small television on the ground, smashed to pieces.

"Paperwork is going to be a nightmare," Jeff sighed.

--

"I didn't know he was dead," the man said, handcuffed to Kyra's desk.

"You do realize," Kyra replied, slightly annoyed, "that doesn't exactly get you off, right?"

"I figured he moved in with his girl."

"His girl?"

"Yeah," the man continued. "She came over sometimes, but mostly, he'd go to her place."

"You know her name?"

"Des or something."

After thinking for a brief moment, Kyra took out a picture of Desdemona that Anderson had given her. She gave it to the man.

"Yeah, that's her."

"You're saying this woman was in a relationship with Bill?" Kyra pressed.

"Yeah, although..." the man trailed off.

"Although?"

"That's not who was there last night."

--

"It does seem suspicious," Captain O'Halloran mused.

"It's obstruction of justice," Jeff roared.

"But something about this doesn't add up," Kyra thought aloud.

"You've got a theory?" O'Halloran asked.

In truth, Kyra only had suspicions, and no evidence to support them.

"I don't know," Kyra replied. "If they argued, then Bill's death could be the result of a lover's spat."

"We should bring her in," Jeff retorted.

"We don't have proof," Kyra answered. "She may be lying to us about her relationship, but that doesn't mean she killed him. "

"She's lying to us. Let's ask her again."

"I'll go alone."

If Jeff could ignite fires with his eyes, Kyra was certain that she would be ablaze now.

"What?"

"Jeff, I think you still need time off." The words stung Kyra's throat like a jellyfish. Tears of regret had already begun to form in her eyes.

"I'm over it," Jeff shouted. "What happened with Jen is ancient history. So listen very carefully... I'm fine."

Jeff stormed out of the office door, slamming it behind him.

Kyra took a deep breath.

"Are you okay?" O'Halloran interjected.

Kyra looked at her captain, for the first time in their relationship, without an explanation.

--

Kyra had returned to the aquarium, finding it all but deserted. News of the corpse had probably deterred the few people who would have come, but Kyra was still surprised to see that it was open. Even more surprised that Desdemona, only a couple of days after her supposed boyfriends death, was sitting at the front desk, ready for work.

"Desdemona," Kyra called out.

Desdemona turned her head towards her, but immediately looked away. She made no attempt to leave, but it was clear she didn't want to talk to Kyra.

"I heard you and Bill were dating," Kyra pried.

"I have to get back to work," Desdemona replied.

"First, I need you need to answer a few questions."

"I just want to work."

"A man you knew died a few days ago."

"People die every day," Desdemona hissed, nearly on the verge of tears. "The world keeps turning, Detective. I still have to go to feed my family, and that means working. So go away... before I get in trouble."

Desdemona's anger was laced with desperation, and Kyra sensed that there was something deep that she was missing.

The doors to the aquarium swung open and Mina walked in, drinking her morning coffee.

"Hey Des," Mina beamed. "Feeling better today?"

Desdemona just ignored her.

"You work here as a tour guide, right?" Kyra asked, stepping in front of Mina.

"Until I graduate," Mina replied. "You're that detective investigating Bill, right?"

Kyra nodded. She brought Mina over to a corner in the lobby, away from Desdemona.

"What can you tell me about Bill?" Kyra asked, her voice hushed so that only the two of them could hear.

"Nice guy," Mina mused. "He liked to focus on his work. Kept to himself, mostly."

"I hear he and Desdemona were fairly close."

"I really wouldn't know."

"Director Hecate said they argued a lot."

"They argued once before his death. Dolores thought it was a bigger deal than it was. Time is money and all that."

"What did they argue about?

"I don't know," Mina shrugged. "They were speaking Spanish."

"What about Dolores?"

"She inherited the place from her mom, but I don't think she ever wanted anything to do with it. She doesn't really know anything about the ocean or the creatures in it."

"And you do?"

"On my third year. Gonna be a marine biologist."

"MINA!"

Kyra jumped around at the echoing yell in the lobby. She was shocked to find Dolores stomping over to her and Mina.

"Every second that you're late is another tour delayed," Dolores fumed.

Kyra frowned slightly at her words, examining the completely deserted lobby.

"Sorry, Ms. Hecate," Mina replied.

Mina rushed away, leaving Kyra alone with Dolores.

"I had some questions for her," Kyra apologized.

"And you are?" Dolores asked. It didn't take her more than a second to realize her error however, as she quickly followed it with "Detective. You're still looking for my tapes, right?"

"And Bill's killer."

"Right. Of course."

"Look, you're a busy woman," Kyra said, her voice heavy with irony.

"Yes, I am. I've got to find a way to stay afloat. I would appreciate it if you didn't bother my employees at work."

"I need to question them."

"Then do it on their time," Dolores replied, a tone of finality in her voice. "I don't want police snooping around here. It's bad for business."

"So is murder."

--

"I don't have anything that you don't already know," Lindsay, the mortician, answered solemnly. "The blow to the forehead had a shard of glass in it..."

"From bashing his head into the glass," Kyra replied.

"And the wound on the back was from a sharp object --"

"The bench near the glass, I know."

"How?"

"Anderson gave me his report yesterday," Kyra said, irritated. "He told me the crack on the glass was made from the outside, and that the bench had traces of blood on it. There was also blood on the floor from Bill's corpse being dragged to the shark tank."

"Someone was busy that night cleaning up."

"Yeah. Nothing that can give us a conviction, though. No evidence pointing at one single person."

Lindsay put down her tools and stared at Kyra.

"Kyra," Lindsay said softly.

"I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I'm just... frustrated."

"I know that you're usually the one with the answers, but it's okay to not know everything."

"It's not that, Linn. It's Jennifer."

"Jeff's ex?" Lindsay said, bitterly. "How's he doing, by the way?"

"About as good as I am."

"That's rough."

"She lied to all of us. Who knows how long, but I... we should have noticed something."

"She was a lawyer," Lindsay joked. "Lying is like breathing to them."

Kyra chuckled. "There's something about this case, though. Something staring at me, right in the face. I know Desdemona knows something. But she doesn't seem like the killer for some reason."

"Maybe she isn't. Maybe someone's trying to throw you off their scent."

"What makes you say that?"

"An old story about using the smell of fish to lure dogs away from their prey. Which brings me to something you might find interesting, though it probably won't lead anywhere."

Lindsay picked up a small vial and handed it to Kyra.

Inside was just a couple of small red scales.

"Fish scales?" Kyra asked, disappointed.

"Yeah, found right in the shark bites."

"Meaning?"

"That someone put them there to lure the sharks to eat the corpse."

--

As Kyra knocked on Desdemona's front door, she noted that this house was a shade nicer than Bill's had been. Kyra figured that was because she had kids and would've required the additional space. Then she sighed, knowing that they would never know what could have been.

Desdemona opened the door and her eyes widened seeing Kyra there and slammed the door.

Kyra took a deep breath, trying to remain objective. But it was no use.

She banged on the door.

"Open the door or I will come back with a warrant."

The door opened again.

"My kids are here," Desdemona pleaded.

"You knew Bill," Kyra snapped. "His neighbour said you were in a relationship, Mina and Dolores said you argued with him. It is against the law to withhold evidence. An arrestable offence."

"No, please I can't lose my kids."

"Then tell me what's going on."

"I just needed to keep my job."

--

"Detective," Dolores seethed through her teeth. "I thought I told you--"

"Not to harass your staff during business hours. Not here for them." Kyra retorted. "Dolores Hecate, you are under arrest for the murder of William Cobbett. We also have a warrant to search your office."

"On what grounds?"

--

Dolores' protests echoed throughout the tunnel as she was led away from her office. Any fish that were in the tanks began to swim erratically away from the glass.

Kyra covered her ears to protect them from the shouting. But as they dissipated, she looked up and saw Jeff on the other end of the tunnel, also cupping his ears.

"The Director was the killer?" Jeff asked.

"According to Desdemona," Kyra replied. "She witnessed the murder. Dolores threatened to fire her if she said anything. Dolores slammed his head against the glass and he hit it again against the bench. We also found the security tapes in her office, including one that looks like it's from Bill's camera. She wouldn't throw them away because VCR tapes expensive to replace."

"So why'd she do it?"

"The aquarium was struggling. Bill noticed the maintenance problems and confronted her. She got angry."

"Involuntary manslaughter," Jeff smirked. "And the case hinged on a witness. Dolores pointed us towards Desdemona to throw us off."

"Classic misdirect," Kyra chuckled.

Jeff smirked, turning towards the tank. Kyra turned as well.

"So," Kyra asked tentatively. "Are you okay?"

There was a brief pause as Jeff considered the question.

"No," he finally said. "Being stuck in that old courthouse was the scariest moment of my life. And finding out my girlfriend was a killer? That was worse. I've never felt so vulnerable and I'm second-guessing everything I do. I'm trying to get better but..."

"Nothing feels right," Kyra finished. "I've been doubting myself this entire case. I didn't catch her and you almost paid the price for it."

The two of them stared into the fish tank and watched, serenely, as the fish pensively swam to and fro, enjoying the brief moment of meditative peace, wondering if they would ever be right again.